Oz-China Barrier Reef copro set

Companies in Australia and China have signed a memorandum of understanding to coproduce a TV series about the Great Barrier Reef.

Australia’s RJ Media and China’s Neo Media Investment will collaborate on 13-part show The Great Barrier Reef: A ‘Living’ Treasure.

Aussie distributor Flame Media arranged the agreement and will handle international distribution of the series.

Two versions of the documentary will be produced, one in English and one in Mandarin, with the latter to be broadcast on free-to-air channel Beijing TV in China. Both will be in 4K.

The series will follow the lives of seven people who live and work on the reef, including tourism operators, a marine biologist, a dive instructor and an indigenous ranger.

NeoMedia Investment Co is the production arm of the BTV Documentary Channel in China, which is owned by shareholders including China Documentary Film Group and Beijing TV.